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Press Release

Former President Of Law Enforcement Labor Union Pleads Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court To Defrauding Union Of Funds

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Andriana Vamvakas, the New York District Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor‑Management Standards (“DOL-OLMS”), announced today that JOHN EARVIN, the former president of the United Federation of Law Enforcement Officers (“UFLEO” or the “Union”), pled guilty to an Indictment charging him with wire fraud.  The UFLEO represents Special Inspectors employed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York (“MTA”).  EARVIN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.

According to the allegations in the Indictment and statements made in court:

From February 2007 through April 2010, EARVIN was the Union’s president, supervising the affairs of the Union and managing the Union’s finances, including through sole control of the Union’s bank account (the “Account”).  Through his presidency, EARVIN perpetrated a scheme to defraud the Union by diverting Union dues payments deposited into the Account for his own benefit, principally by making hundreds of ATM withdrawals at off-track betting facilities and other locations and making personal use of the funds.  In perpetuating the scheme and preventing its discovery, EARVIN repeatedly lied to Union members about the Account by, for example, claiming that he could not provide an accounting of funds to Union members because an independent auditor was reviewing the Union’s finances.  As a result of the scheme, EARVIN defrauded the Union and its members of approximately $28,012.
 

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EARVIN, 67, of New Rochelle, New York pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The Indictment also seeks forfeiture of crime proceeds.  The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

EARVIN is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Engelmayer on October 22 at 10 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara thanked the DOL-OLMS for its work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie H. Cohen and Jennifer Gachiri are in charge of the prosecution.

Updated June 19, 2015

Press Release Number: 15-151